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Can ordinary materialists be autonomous?

  • North Dakota State University

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

We argue that the secular cannot offer a materialist response to “The Problem of Too Many Thinkers” that makes autonomy possible. The materialist can accommodate what truths about respecting personal freedom and autonomy only by accepting a counterintuitive sparse ontology. Immaterial accounts of the person look good by comparison. However, those immaterialist theories that don't posit a divinely created soul suffer from certain metaphysical puzzles avoided by those who do claim divine creation. A soul that requires divine creation strongly suggests that such immaterial beings were made for a purpose. Such purposeful creation makes theistic ethics seem far more plausible.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)411-431
Number of pages21
JournalPhilosophia Christi
Volume18
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2016

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